Die Reaktionsspezifität der Lipoxygenase 15

15-Lipoxygenase (ALOX15) is a non-heme iron-containing dioxygenase that oxygenates polyunsaturated fatty acids to hydroperoxy fatty acids. It is involved in the synthesis of bioactive signaling molecules (leukotrienes, lipoxins) as well as in lipoprotein metabolism, playing an important role in physiological and pathophysiological processes. ALOX15 orthologs are expressed in almost all mammalian species. Phylogenetically older mammals (mouse, rat, pig) possess 12-lipoxygenating ALOX15 orthologs, while more advanced mammals (chimpanzees, humans) express 15-lipoxygenating enzymes. To identify potential driving forces behind this evolutionary change in the reaction specificity of ALOX15 orthologs, four working hypotheses were tested in this study.